Zebra3 Info

[vvilms]

zebrawood

[AnalogGuy1]

The knobs on ACE are, IMO, far and away the best knobs on any U-He synth (or any soft synth). They have nice clear indicator lines, they're tactile-looking without being unnecessarily skeuomorphic, and they have vector rings around them so it's obvious what their current setting is, obvious whether they're unipolar or bipolar, and obvious whether they're at default values or not. If the new Zebra knobs look at all like them I'll be very happy.

Not that we'd ever want Z3 to be designed by committee, but +1 that I can easily see the ACE knobs. Also happy with Z2, Bazille.

[spunkmuffin]

The knobs on ACE are, IMO, far and away the best knobs on any U-He synth (or any soft synth). They have nice clear indicator lines, they're tactile-looking without being unnecessarily skeuomorphic, and they have vector rings around them so it's obvious what their current setting is, obvious whether they're unipolar or bipolar, and obvious whether they're at default values or not. If the new Zebra knobs look at all like them I'll be very happy.

I'm glad this guy agrees with me. Ace knobs would be way better than the tiny Diva ones with 'tick marks'. Why not have a vote: "Who likes tick marks?"

The new knobs look like little black bugs with lots of legs and one tiny triangular eye each.

Like little parasites crawling on Zebra. Poor Zebra

[aaron aardvark]

Can this be an option, to be able to still use the old one?

You can always use whatever skin you want.

That is good news for me. Thank you for replying.

[spunkmuffin]

Ticks! That's it! That's what those knobs look like!

[aumordia]

Why should anybody listen to you, spunky?

You're aware that e.g Hans Zimmer uses Zebra, right? As in, a guy who's musical accomplishments add up to somewhat more than anonymous whining on an Internet forum. Or how about EvilDragon -- his name might be ridiculous, but his long list of successful custom kontakt instruments is not. And there are many, many more such cases.

Point being that Urs has lots of great feedback from users worth taking seriously. You are not one of those users. Neither am I, but I'm at least self aware about that.

Right now your whining represents the overwhelming majority of negative feedback about the new WORK IN PROGRESS skin. Literally everyone else has responded to it positively, with maybe a couple sober reservations thrown in here or there. You alone have the gall to think that Urs has "lost the plot" because of your infantile fetish to have actual Zebra stripes on your toy.

I am absolutely stunned by the equanimity of Urs in matters such as this. He treats his users incredibly well -- some of them far better than they deserve.

And lest you think I'm some U-he fanboy, look at my past interactions with Urs, where you can see me flatly disagreeing with him on matters regarding Hive vs. Sylenth1. In fact, the only U-he product I ever owned was Zebra2, which I ultimately sold because I could not stand the UI. I'm the furthest thing from a fanboy.

But, I do respect U-he very much, and I try to conduct myself in a way that reflects that. I'm keen to see what an improved UI can do for Zebra -- perhaps I'd license up again, perhaps not, but either way, I admire the commitment to quality and the fact that what appears to be a significant update is being developed for free.

If you want to talk about ticks, that's you, spunkmuffin. You are the bloated, greasy tick burrowed into the loins of this thread, draining it of its lifeblood and probably giving it Lyme disease to boot. Get a grip and get a life my dude.

[spunkmuffin]

I did not design a knob that resembles a tick. U-he did.

By saying I prefer the old (current) skin I am actually paying Urs a huge compliment! He designed the old skin by himself for himself. It has charm & character. The new skin does not. It is designed for noobs. Designed by comittee to tick all the 'usability' boxes. Bland-O-Rama.

[moscom_electronics]

It is designed for noobs.

I am sorry to do this, but this part of your message is just stupid. So you think that the best synths are those whose interface is obscure, complicated? Not only is that a dumb statement, but it is also condescending both to users and to Urs. You actually claim that you are paying respect to Urs by stating that Zeb's old interface is better, but now you are also stating that Urs, a industrial design engineer, does not know his art when he works wit his team to design a new interface. As some orange-haired people would say, SAAAAAAD!

I understand (and I think we all do) that you like the old interface better than this work-in-progress (WIP) draft. But please, not the "noob" argument. I am myself not a noob, but I still have a lot to learn. Part of this learning I do using Zebra. Very often, I find that the old interface is not clear at first. I rely on alternative skins when using Zebra. The sketch that Urs has shared with us seems to go in the right direction. Besides, it IS a WIP and so things might still change.

That you do not like some aspects of it is fine, but please state it once and for all, and stop polluting the forum with your repeated complaints (I think that the only thing you could post that is missing is a picture of a clock with "tick tick" written on it, and that would be appaling). As others have stated, there are plenty other alternatives.

And maybe you could make sure the old interface is still up to date when zebra 2.8 comes out? That would be constructive then!

Out.

[spunkmuffin]

So you think that the best synths are those whose interface is obscure, complicated?

Your words not mine.

but now you are also stating that Urs, a industrial design engineer, does not know his art when he works wit his team to design a new interface.

Again, your words not mine. Please do not try and put YOUR words in my mouth.

There are SO many things wrong with the new 'sketch'. I have to address them one element at a time. That is why I have so much constructive feedback to give.

One big one is the knobs. I'm almost finished there. Then I will move on to a few other elements.

So many people being horrible to me. I must be doing something right.

[EvilDragon]

Your feedback is not constructive, it's obnoxious.

[Urs]

Then I will move on to a few other elements.

How about you start with the existing default skin of Zebra2. Then, later on, you can compare your criticism of that with your findings of the new skin. Then we'll see which areas have improved and which have degraded - in your opinion.

[Faza]

In my opinion the new skin for Zebra2 is Much Tad better the previous ones. It's looking sharp like a razor blade, it's very futuristic, much cleaner, juicy, professional, it looks and shine like a work of art. It's very, very good in my opinion, it's very close to being perfect and definitely.

[spunkmuffin]

Your feedback is not constructive, it's obnoxious.

Silly!

Then I will move on to a few other elements.

How about you start with the existing default skin of Zebra2. Then, later on, you can compare your criticism of that with your findings of the new skin. Then we'll see which areas have improved and which have degraded - in your opinion.

But I have very little to criticise about the existing default skin of Zebra2.

Also it is important to distinguish between the skin (which I am criticising) and the layout (which I am not).

One positive are the little parameter boxes below modulator knobs. But actually this is not new but the re-introduction of an element from Zebra1!
It definitely helps distinguish the knobs doing the modulating which was a bit confusing in Zebra2 till you got used to it. On the other hand it puts more stuff back on the main panel. So there are positives and negatives to this. Overall positive.

The new division lines between knobs. Again, helps to group knobs but adds more visual elements. Overall positive.

But that's just about where the improvements end.

In my opinion. But of course it's not just me.

[moscom_electronics]

Your words not mine.

Again, your words not mine. Please do not try and put YOUR words in my mouth.

I am not putting my words in your mouth. I am sorry, I was hoping you would give me answers. Rhetorical questions do not work apparemtly....

I am just trying to understand your point of view. You cannot show up on a forum, say that you pay respect to someone's work and immediately tell them they do not know what they are doing without bringing up an alternative take on the skin that you have thought about. But anyway, that diverts us from the main discussion, which is that you have the undisputable right to state your opinion, but you are certainly becoming annoying to the community when you cannot refrain yourself from stating it every other message.

There are SO many things wrong with the new 'sketch'. I have to address them one element at a time. That is why I have so much constructive feedback to give.

One big one is the knobs. I'm almost finished there. Then I will move on to a few other elements.

Ah, now that starts to be interesting. This is constructive.

So many people being horrible to me. I must be doing something right.

Ah, troll techniques, the lonely soldier claim....Then we need to starve you

This time I am out, and you should be too, You apparently have a skin suggestion in the works. Eager to see it, and hopefully to be convinced and on your boat.

[spunkmuffin]

I am just trying to understand your point of view.

Keep trying.

Got anything to actually say about the UI?